British Business Bank South West

#ICYMI: Our Nations and Regions Tracker 2025 found that use of external finance remained steady at 46% in the South West. "In the face of a challenging economic environment, it is encouraging to see use of external finance in the South West increase slightly while the national picture showed a small decline," says our UKN Director Steve Connibear Find out more here via Insider Media https://lnkd.in/dGkWHFka

Francis Pipe and Jennifer Herrera fused Mexican flavours with Cornish produce to create Pica Rico Deli—a street food-inspired venue in the heart of Helston 🌽🌶️ With a £25,000 from Start Up Loans and support from SWIG Finance, they transformed a local shop into a vibrant deli serving heirloom corn tortillas, locally caught fish, and organic veg grown using ancestral planting methods. Their journey spans Dubai, Berlin, and Mexico—but it’s Cornwall where their dream found a home. ⭐ Jenn and Francis are our Start Up Loans Ambassadors for the South West ⭐

One year of Cornwall Angel Network 🎉 This week, as part of Business Finance Week, we celebrated a big milestone: one year since the launch of the Cornwall Angel Network. Led by Falmouth University and backed by British Business Bank, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and UK Business Angels Association, the network is helping ambitious Cornish businesses connect with investors who care about innovation, people and place. In just 12 months: ✅ 25+ angel investors joined ✅ 4 early-stage businesses secured funding ✅ £189,000 deployed A brilliant first year, and this is just the beginning 👏

External finance use held up in the South West in 2024, rising by one percentage point to 46% 💷 Our #NationsAndRegions25 Tracker is out today highlighting key trends in the small business finance markets across the UK. Download the full report for more insights 👉 https://lnkd.in/e3bZWHgG

🐾 Turning a passion for pets into a business 🐾 When Weymouth dog lover Irena Grech adopted her chihuahua/Jack Russell cross, Fifi, she spotted a gap in the market for pet owners to connect, share advice and trade products. With the help of a £15,000 Start Up Loan Irena is launching Pet Connect App, a new social platform that aims to be a “one-stop shop” for pet owners and professionals, from vets and groomers to adoption services. The Start Up Loan gave Irena the confidence and resources to take her idea forward – from registering the business and hiring developers, to building an app that could bring pet owners together not just in Dorset, but eventually around the world. 💡 Our Start Up Loans Company programme provides loans of up to £25,000 plus free mentoring, helping thousands of entrepreneurs like Irena turn ideas into reality. 

Deal alert! 📣 Cornwall-based Aspia Space has secured a £1m equity investment from our South West Investment Fund, via our fund manager The FSE Group, as part of a £2.25m funding round. Aspia’s cutting-edge AI technologies monitor and interpret change on the land surface, uninterrupted by clouds. By converting streams of observational data into interpretable insights, Aspia delivers timely intelligence for its customers, enabling data-driven decision-making when it is most needed. Aspia Space is applying its proprietary technology to some of the most critical global challenges, with applications spanning agriculture, insurance, land management, and environmental monitoring. Aspia plans to create 10 new jobs within 12 months and grow to a 100-strong team by 2030. It aims to be a £40m turnover business within five years. The South West Investment Fund was created to back ambitious businesses like Aspia, helping them unlock growth, create high-value jobs, and deliver real economic and environmental impact.

📣 Business Finance Week starts today! 🤝Join us for a week of expert led events helping UK businesses better understand and access the right type of finance. From understanding different types of business finance to drafting a compelling business plan, each day is packed with practical insights, tools, and opportunities to connect with experts. 📅 30 September – 9 October 👉🏻 See what's happening near you: https://bit.ly/4lTuGRt

🎉 Join us to celebrate the first year of the Cornwall Angel Network. The Network aims to create a more diverse investment community by connecting local angel investors to start-up and early-stage businesses across the region. You'll have the chance to meet innovative Cornish businesses, learn more about Angel investing and discover more about how the network operates. 📆 Tuesday 7 October 🕤 9.30-14.30 🎫 https://bit.ly/3JL2ZvM Falmouth University Cornwall Chamber of Commerce #BusinessFinanceWeek25

Deal alert! 📣 We’re delighted to announce a £1.85m equity investment into Tixserve, a pioneering digital ticket management platform, from our South West Investment Fund, delivered through Maven Capital Partners. Tixserve is transforming how tickets are delivered, managed, and experienced, they're already trusted by major sporting organisations such as England Rugby and Celtic FC. With digital ticketing set to become mandatory for Premier League clubs by the 2026/27 season, the company is well positioned to capture significant growth in this fast-evolving market. This investment will help Tixserve: ✅ Scale a proven platform ✅ Establish a Bristol base and create high-value jobs ✅ Expand into new sports sectors and international markets The South West Investment Fund is here to create opportunities, back innovation, and unlock growth for businesses across the region – from early-stage ventures to established companies ready to scale.

💡 Thinking of starting your own business? Our Start Up Loans Company programme is here to support aspiring entrepreneurs across the South West with the funding and guidance they need to bring their ideas to life. ✅ Government-backed loans from £500 to £25,000 per business owner or partner to help you start or grow your business ✅ Fixed interest rate of 6% to keep repayments predictable ✅ 1 to 5 year loan repayment term ✅ Free mentoring and business support to help you on your journey    Since its launch, Start Up Loans has backed thousands of people across the South West to turn ambition into action - from cafés and creative agencies to tech start-ups and social enterprises.